To pray and live courageously

Making ourselves available can be a dangerous posture.  But, should it not be our posture?  The past three months I’ve passed through a time of study (most meaningful books Experiencing God and Crazy Love).  I have enjoyed the camaraderie and accountability with 12 strong men.  The season has also included struggles of many kinds (relational, trust, commitment, spiritual warfare, etc).  All of this has given me a lot of time for deep introspection.  The season has been bitter sweet.   I am finding healing and new life.

I have told a number of people that “2009 will go down as my most difficult and challenging year of this decade.”  Moving back from Africa, starting GPC, dealing with the development and educational needs of our children, guiding a growing congregation all has it challenges, but each has it’s rewards.  This year has simply been tough…but it needed to be.  I needed a year of trials.  Why?  There are many reasons, but one reason is for sure…I have been sailing  “to close to the shore”.

I have been sailing “too close to the shore” personally and professionally.  I’ve been living in the safety of an established church, and not moving out; no longer thirsty. I haven’t been motivated to “run the race” as the Apostle Paul said to do.  I am praying a new prayer now.  Stuart Cearly shared with me.  When I read it  and was a reminder to me as to how I once prayed and how I must once again pray.  I am available God – lead me on…

Disturb us, Lord, when We are too well pleased with ourselves, When our dreams have come true Because we have dreamed too little, When we arrived safely Because we sailed too close to the shore.Disturb us, Lord, when With the abundance of things we possess We have lost our thirst For the waters of life; Having fallen in love with life, We have ceased to dream of eternity And in our efforts to build a new earth, We have allowed our vision Of the new Heaven to dim.Disturb us, Lord, to dare more boldly, To venture on wider seas Where storms will show your mastery; Where losing sight of land, We shall find the stars. We ask You to push back The horizons of our hopes; And to push into the future In strength, courage, hope, and love.

attributed – sir francis drake -1577

This entry was posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 11:15 pm and is filed under Spiritual Formation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.